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- Opening dohas
- Doha 1 (opening)
ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं मेधा प्रभा जीवन ज्योति प्रचण्ड।शान्ति कान्ति जागृत प्रगति रचना शक्ति अखण्ड॥
hrīṃ śrīṃ klīṃ medhā prabhā jīvana jyoti pracaṇḍa।śānti kānti jāgṛta pragati racanā śakti akhaṇḍa॥
Hrim, Shrim, Klim — intellect, radiance, the light of life, blazing splendor; peace, brilliance, awakened progress — unbroken is your power to bring creation into being.
- Doha 2 (opening)
जगत जननी मङ्गल करनि गायत्री सुखधाम।प्रणवों सावित्री स्वधा स्वाहा पूरन काम॥
jagata jananī maṅgala karani gāyatrī sukhadhāma।praṇavõ sāvitrī svadhā svāhā pūrana kāma॥
Mother of the universe, doer of auspiciousness, Gayatri, abode of happiness — you are the syllable Om, Savitri, Svadha, and Svaha, the fulfiller of every purpose.
- The 40 chaupais
- Chaupai 1
भूर्भुवः स्वः ॐ युत जननी।गायत्री नित कलिमल दहनी॥
bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ oṃ yuta jananī।gāyatrī nita kalimala dahanī॥
Mother joined with Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, and Om — Gayatri, ever the burner-away of this dark age's impurities.
- Chaupai 2
अक्षर चौविस परम पुनीता।इनमें बसें शास्त्र श्रुति गीता॥
akṣara cauvisa parama punītā।inameṃ basẽ śāstra śruti gītā॥
Your twenty-four syllables are utterly sacred; within them dwell the scriptures, the Vedas, and the Gita.
- Chaupai 3
शाश्वत सतोगुणी सत रूपा।सत्य सनातन सुधा अनूपा॥
śāśvata satoguṇī sata rūpā।satya sanātana sudhā anūpā॥
Eternal, filled with the quality of purity, whose very form is truth — true, everlasting, an incomparable nectar.
- Chaupai 4
हंसारूढ श्वेताम्बर धारी।स्वर्ण कान्ति शुचि गगन-बिहारी॥
haṃsārūḍha śvetāmbara dhārī।svarṇa kānti śuci gagana-bihārī॥
Mounted on a swan, clothed in white; golden in radiance, pure, moving freely through the sky.
- Chaupai 5
पुस्तक पुष्प कमण्डलु माला।शुभ्र वर्ण तनु नयन विशाला॥
pustaka puṣpa kamaṇḍalu mālā।śubhra varṇa tanu nayana viśālā॥
A book, a flower, a water-pot, and a rosary in your hands; your form is bright and fair, your eyes wide.
- Chaupai 6
ध्यान धरत पुलकित हिय होई।सुख उपजत दुःख दुर्मति खोई॥
dhyāna dharata pulakita hiya hoī।sukha upajata duḥkha durmati khoī॥
Holding you in meditation, the heart thrills with joy; happiness arises, and sorrow and ill will are destroyed.
- Chaupai 7
कामधेनु तुम सुर तरु छाया।निराकार की अद्भुत माया॥
kāmadhenu tuma sura taru chāyā।nirākāra kī adbhuta māyā॥
You are the wish-fulfilling cow, the shade of the celestial wishing-tree — the wondrous power of the formless.
- Chaupai 8
तुम्हरी शरण गहै जो कोई।तरै सकल संकट सों सोई॥
tumharī śaraṇa gahai jo koī।tarai sakala saṅkaṭa sõ soī॥
Whoever takes refuge in you crosses over every difficulty.
- Chaupai 9
सरस्वती लक्ष्मी तुम काली।दिपै तुम्हारी ज्योति निराली॥
sarasvatī lakṣmī tuma kālī।dipai tumhārī jyoti nirālī॥
You are Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali; your light shines forth, unique and unmatched.
- Chaupai 10
तुम्हरी महिमा पार न पावैं।जो शारद शत मुख गुन गावैं॥
tumharī mahimā pāra na pāvaĩ।jo śārada śata mukha guna gāvaĩ॥
None can reach the far shore of your glory — not even Sharada, or the thousand-mouthed one, were they to sing your praises.
- Chaupai 11
चार वेद की मात पुनीता।तुम ब्रह्माणी गौरी सीता॥
cāra veda kī māta punītā।tuma brahmāṇī gaurī sītā॥
Sacred mother of the four Vedas — you are Brahmani, Gauri, and Sita.
- Chaupai 12
महामन्त्र जितने जग माहीं।कोउ गायत्री सम नाहीं॥
mahāmantra jitane jaga māhī̃।kou gāyatrī sama nāhī̃॥
Of all the great mantras that exist in this world, none is equal to Gayatri.
- Chaupai 13
सुमिरत हिय में ज्ञान प्रकासै।आलस पाप अविद्या नासै॥
sumirata hiya meṃ jñāna prakāsai।ālasa pāpa avidyā nāsai॥
Remembering you, knowledge shines forth in the heart; laziness, sin, and ignorance are destroyed.
- Chaupai 14
सृष्टि बीज जग जननि भवानी।कालरात्रि वरदा कल्याणी॥
sṛṣṭi bīja jaga janani bhavānī।kālarātri varadā kalyāṇī॥
Seed of creation, mother of the world, Bhavani — the night of dissolution, giver of boons, bringer of well-being.
- Chaupai 15
ब्रह्मा विष्णु रुद्र सुर जेते।तुम सों पावें सुरता तेते॥
brahmā viṣṇu rudra sura jete।tuma sõ pāvẽ suratā tete॥
Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, and however many gods there are — all of them attain their divine power from you.
- Chaupai 16
तुम भक्तन की भक्त तुम्हारे।जननिहिं पुत्र प्राण ते प्यारे॥
tuma bhaktana kī bhakta tumhāre।jananihĩ putra prāṇa te pyāre॥
You belong to your devotees, and your devotees belong to you — dearer to a mother than her own life is her son.
- Chaupai 17
महिमा अपरम्पार तुम्हारी।जय जय जय त्रिपदा भयहारी॥
mahimā aparampāra tumhārī।jaya jaya jaya tripadā bhayahārī॥
Boundless is your glory. Victory, victory, victory to the one of three feet, remover of fear.
- Chaupai 18
पूरित सकल ज्ञान विज्ञाना।तुम सम अधिक न जगमे आना॥
pūrita sakala jñāna vijñānā।tuma sama adhika na jagame ānā॥
You are filled with all knowledge and wisdom; none greater than you has come into this world.
- Chaupai 19
तुमहिं जानि कछु रहै न शेषा।तुमहिं पाय कछु रहै न कलेशा॥
tumahĩ jāni kachu rahai na śeṣā।tumahĩ pāya kachu rahai na kaleśā॥
Having known you, nothing remains to be known; having attained you, no affliction remains.
- Chaupai 20
जानत तुमहिं तुमहिं व्है जाई।पारस परसि कुधातु सुहाई॥
jānata tumahĩ tumahĩ vhai jāī।pārasa parasi kudhātu suhāī॥
Knowing you, one becomes you — as base metal, touched by the philosopher's stone, becomes beautiful gold.
- Chaupai 21
तुम्हरी शक्ति दिपै सब ठाई।माता तुम सब ठौर समाई॥
tumharī śakti dipai saba ṭhāī।mātā tuma saba ṭhaura samāī॥
Your power shines in every place; you, Mother, pervade every location.
- Chaupai 22
ग्रह नक्षत्र ब्रह्माण्ड घनेरे।सब गतिवान तुम्हारे प्रेरे॥
graha nakṣatra brahmāṇḍa ghanere।saba gativāna tumhāre prere॥
The planets, the constellations, and the countless worlds of the universe — all that moves is set in motion by you.
- Chaupai 23
सकल सृष्टि की प्राण विधाता।पालक पोषक नाशक त्राता॥
sakala sṛṣṭi kī prāṇa vidhātā।pālaka poṣaka nāśaka trātā॥
You are the ordainer of life-breath for all creation — its sustainer, its nourisher, its destroyer, and its protector.
- Chaupai 24
मातेश्वरी दया व्रत धारी।तुम सन तरे पातकी भारी॥
māteśvarī dayā vrata dhārī।tuma sana tare pātakī bhārī॥
Sovereign Mother, keeper of the vow of compassion — through you, even the heaviest of sinners cross over.
- Chaupai 25
जापर कृपा तुम्हारी होई।तापर कृपा करें सब कोई॥
jāpara kṛpā tumhārī hoī।tāpara kṛpā karẽ saba koī॥
On whomever your grace falls, on that one everyone else, too, shows kindness.
- Chaupai 26
मन्द बुद्धि ते बुधि बल पावें।रोगी रोग रहित हो जावें॥
manda buddhi te budhi bala pāvẽ।rogī roga rahita ho jāvẽ॥
The dull-witted gain the strength of intelligence; the sick become free of disease.
- Chaupai 27
दरिद्र मिटै कटै सब पीरा।नाशै दुःख हरै भव भीरा॥
daridra miṭai kaṭai saba pīrā।nāśai duḥkha harai bhava bhīrā॥
Poverty is erased, every pain is cut away; sorrow is destroyed, and the fear of worldly existence is taken away.
- Chaupai 28
गृह क्लेश चित चिन्ता भारी।नासै गायत्री भय हारी॥
gṛha kleśa cita cintā bhārī।nāsai gāyatrī bhaya hārī॥
Domestic strife and heavy anxiety of mind — Gayatri, remover of fear, destroys them.
- Chaupai 29
सन्तति हीन सुसन्तति पावें।सुख संपति युत मोद मनावें॥
santati hīna susantati pāvẽ।sukha sampati yuta moda manāvẽ॥
Those without children obtain good children, and celebrate with joy, blessed with happiness and prosperity.
- Chaupai 30
भूत पिशाच सबै भय खावें।यम के दूत निकट नहिं आवें॥
bhūta piśāca sabai bhaya khāvẽ।yama ke dūta nikaṭa nahĩ āvẽ॥
All ghosts and evil spirits flee in fear; the messengers of Yama do not come near.
- Chaupai 31
जो सधवा सुमिरें चित लाई।अछत सुहाग सदा सुखदाई॥
jo sadhavā sumirẽ cita lāī।achata suhāga sadā sukhadāī॥
The married woman who remembers you with a focused mind keeps her married state unbroken, ever a source of happiness.
- Chaupai 32
घर वर सुख प्रद लहैं कुमारी।विधवा रहें सत्य व्रत धारी॥
ghara vara sukha prada lahaĩ kumārī।vidhavā rahẽ satya vrata dhārī॥
Unmarried girls obtain a good household and a happiness-giving husband; widows remain steadfast in their vow of truth.
- Chaupai 33
जयति जयति जगदम्ब भवानी।तुम सम ओर दयालु न दानी॥
jayati jayati jagadamba bhavānī।tuma sama ora dayālu na dānī॥
Victory, victory to you, Mother of the universe, Bhavani; none other is as compassionate or as generous as you.
- Chaupai 34
जो सतगुरु सो दीक्षा पावे।सो साधन को सफल बनावे॥
jo sataguru so dīkṣā pāve।so sādhana ko saphala banāve॥
Whoever receives initiation from a true guru makes their spiritual practice fruitful.
- Chaupai 35
सुमिरन करे सुरूचि बडभागी।लहै मनोरथ गृही विरागी॥
sumirana kare surūci baḍabhāgī।lahai manoratha gṛhī virāgī॥
Whoever remembers you with true delight is greatly fortunate; both the householder and the renunciate obtain their heart's desire.
- Chaupai 36
अष्ट सिद्धि नवनिधि की दाता।सब समर्थ गायत्री माता॥
aṣṭa siddhi navanidhi kī dātā।saba samartha gāyatrī mātā॥
Giver of the eight powers and the nine treasures — Mother Gayatri is capable of all things.
- Chaupai 37
ऋषि मुनि यती तपस्वी योगी।आरत अर्थी चिन्तित भोगी॥
ṛṣi muni yatī tapasvī yogī।ārata arthī cintita bhogī॥
Sages, ascetics, renunciates, those practicing austerity, and yogis; the distressed, the wealth-seeker, the anxious, and the one absorbed in worldly enjoyment —
- Chaupai 38
जो जो शरण तुम्हारी आवें।सो सो मन वांछित फल पावें॥
jo jo śaraṇa tumhārī āvẽ।so so mana vāñchita phala pāvẽ॥
— whoever among them comes to your refuge obtains the fruit their heart desires.
- Chaupai 39
बल बुधि विद्या शील स्वभाउ।धन वैभव यश तेज उछाउ॥
bala budhi vidyā śīla svabhāu।dhana vaibhava yaśa teja uchāu॥
Strength, intelligence, learning, good character and temperament; wealth, prosperity, fame, radiance, and vigor —
- Chaupai 40
सकल बढें उपजें सुख नाना।जे यह पाठ करै धरि ध्याना॥
sakala baḍhẽ upajẽ sukha nānā।je yaha pāṭha karai dhari dhyānā॥
— all of these increase, and manifold happiness arises, for whoever recites this Chalisa holding it in meditation.
- Closing doha
- Doha (closing)
यह चालीसा भक्ति युत पाठ करै जो कोई।तापर कृपा प्रसन्नता गायत्री की होय॥
yaha cālīsā bhakti yuta pāṭha karai jo koī।tāpara kṛpā prasannatā gāyatrī kī hoya॥
Whoever recites this Chalisa with devotion — upon them falls the grace and the pleased favor of Gayatri.
Overview
The Gayatri Chalisa is a Hindi devotional composition of two opening dohas, forty chaupai couplets, and a closing doha, addressed to the goddess Gayatri — understood in this tradition as the personification of the Gayatri Mantra recited daily in Vedic sandhyavandanam. The verses praise her as mother of the four Vedas, as the twenty-four sacred syllables of the mantra itself, as an identity shared by Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali, and as the power behind the movement of the planets and the workings of the universe. Like other chalisas, it closes by describing the benefit — worldly and spiritual — said to come from reciting it with devotion.
Origin and source
The Gayatri Chalisa is widely attributed to Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya (1911–1990), the founder of the All World Gayatri Pariwar and its Akhand Jyoti Sansthan, a twentieth-century movement centered on the worship of Gayatri and the revival of Vedic practice. Unlike a chalisa such as the one to Ganesha, whose authorship and age are uncertain, the Gayatri Chalisa’s attribution to a named twentieth-century author is comparatively well documented by the tradition that reveres it, and the text is published and recited both across that movement’s own centers and, more broadly, in general Hindu devotional literature well beyond it. As with any widely copied devotional text, printed versions vary slightly from source to source in spelling and in a handful of individual words; the text on this page follows one complete, internally consistent version confirmed across multiple independently published sources.
How it is recited
The Gayatri Chalisa is recited daily by many devotees of Gayatri, often alongside or in place of a full sandhyavandanam — the Vedic practice of prayer at dawn, noon, and dusk that centers on the Gayatri Mantra itself. It is also recited widely on Gayatri Jayanti, the festival marking the goddess’s appearance, and on other days held sacred to her. As with other chalisas, it is commonly read from a printed pamphlet or recited from memory, either alone in daily personal worship or together in group recitation at a temple or shaktipeeth dedicated to Gayatri.
Frequently asked questions
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Sourcing
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